"I'm afraid you think I'm an awful meddler; but, you see, I didn't know. Paasma told me he had a right to let the boat, and that I could do her up as much as I liked."
"The old wretch!" I gasped. "And you walk on board to find two strange girls rummaging among your—your——" Then I couldn't help laughing when I remembered how Phil had suggested our keeping those things for souvenirs.
"I thought I must be having a dream—a beautiful dream."
I ignored the implied compliment. "What are we going to do about it?" I asked. "It is our boat. There's no doubt about that. But with these things of yours—do you want to go to law, or—or—anything?"
"Good heavens, no! I——"
"I'll tell you what we'll do," said I. "Let's get the caretaker here, and have it out with him. Perhaps he has an explanation."
"He's certain to have—several. Shall I go and fetch him?"
"Please do," urged Phil, speaking for the first time, and looking adorably pink.
The young man vanished, and we heard him running up the steep companion (if that's the right word for it) two steps at a time.
Phil and I stared at each other. "I knew something awful would happen," said she. "This is a judgment."